English 104 - Introduction to Narrative
truth v. Lies
truth v. Lies
Category: 2 Essay: Carroll, Twain, Faulkner, Sebold | Jannelle Richardson
Jannelle Richardson
Introduction to Narrative
Final Paper
Professor Phillipson
Truths v. Lies
The words truth and lie are antonyms. Truth defined means sincerity in action, character, and utterance, the state of being the case, fact . Lie defined means to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive also to create a false or misleading impression . Both words if placed on an axis would be on opposing sides with a clear line of separation drawn between them. This structure is rigid. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, this structure becomes complex and problematic . Twain questions the rigidity of the structure of truth and lies by blurring the line, which separates both opposing ideas, through his main character, Huck. Analyzing the various lies Huck tells throughout the novel uncovers the similarities that exist between truths and lies.
In the opening paragraph Twain sets up the framework of the novel. This novel is supposed to be an autobiography of Huck, who is the narrator, You [Huck] don’t know about me, without the name of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,’ but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. That is nothing. I never seen anybody but lied, one time or another, without it was Aunt Polly, or the widow, or maybe Mary. (Twain 13)
Twain uses this opportunity to transfer Huck’s character from the novel, The Adventures 78of Tom Sawyer to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck’s personal story. In addition to using this occasion to separate both novels, Twain simultaneously writes himself into novel. Twain in his first paragraph needs the reader to acknowledge that he and Huck are the same person and this paragraph is a warning; Twain forces his reader to enter this novel with a skeptical view of the narrator’s perception of truth and reality. He critiques his own work, by stating that the novel was the ‘truth, mainly.’ The language Twain uses, constructs binary meaning to the word truth. The truth is being told; however, not honestly, transforming truth into lies, Twain calls stretchers. The definition of a stretcher can be extracted from the following quote, ‘things, which he stretched, but he mainly told the truth.’ A stretcher is an exaggerated truth that is no longer based on a particular fact. Placing a stretcher on the truth and lies axis becomes difficult because it begins on the portion of the axis that is the truth however through exaggeration it slowly shifts toward the lies portion of the axis, until it crosses the line that separates truth and lies. Lies and stretchers appear similar yet they are different. To distinguish between them is to recognize that a lie is told with the intention to deceive, while a stretcher begins as a truth but slowly shifts further and further away from fact, transforming it into a type of lie.
After Twain has made the reader completely aware that, the narrator, Huck and author Twain, share the same ideas about the truth and lies. The reader is forced to assume Huck is a careless, false and self serving character in the novel; however, this view is transformed in the following statement made by Huck, “please take it,” says I [Huck] “and don’t ask me nothing – then I won’t have to tell no lies.” (28) Here the reader witnesses that Huck is self aware, which is contradictory to previous thoughts created by Twain’s construction of lies surrounding his main character, Huck. Huck’s level of consciousness is surprising because it portrays understanding and appreciation for the value of a lie that was not evident before. In this occasion the reader witnesses Huck being polite: he is asking that he not be questioned. The tone of the quote is also an important indicator of the transformation, the beginning of Huck’s breaking free from his true self. It is obvious, early in the novel that Huck is an adventurous and rebellious child and in this scene he has transformed into a courteous individual. However, the reader must remain skeptical of this change regarding it with suspicion. The use of ‘please’ illuminates that Huck’s instant development of manners is out of necessity, recognizing a request makes an individual, vulnerable to denial dismissing the importance of the request.
Analyzing the sincerity of Huck’s request may seem simple, because it is direct request; however, it indicates Huck’s true character, ‘don’t want to have to tell no lies.’ This statement is a clear warning that Huck lies that he cannot tell the truth. ‘Have to’ brings the readers attention to the fact that lying is uncontrollable aspect of Huck’s personality. Lies are an integral part of Huck, he cannot stop lying, and he must intervene by warning someone, who will prevent him from telling lies. Huck is a very self-conscious to understand and recognize the various situations when lies are appropriate versus situations when lies are not appropriate. Huck’s selectivity raises a new question of the appropriateness of lies.
In order to explore appropriate lies Twain introduces the king and the duke whose lives are based on telling lies.
It didn't take me [Huck] long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into no trouble. If they wanted us to call them kings and dukes, I hadn't no objections, 'long as it would keep peace in the family; and it warn't no use to tell Jim, so I didn't tell him. If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way. (Twain 142)
In this particular instance Huck establishes that he recognizes that the King and the Duke are liars, which is evident by their names. The claim to be a king and a duke is suspicious, however significant. The title king refers to a monarch of a country who has enormous power; he is the absolute sovereignty. In a monarchy the king is supreme, he is the highest-ranking government official and he also occupies the highest position of nobility directly beneath him is the rank of the duke. Huck is able to see through the façade, but he is unable to make the deeper connection these names signify; the king and the duke are successful ‘low-down humbugs and frauds.’ This oversight allows the king and the duke to successfully scam Huck even though he is aware of them being ‘frauds.’
Huck knows that the identities these men have provided are false, yet he chooses to keep this truth to himself and doesn’t tell Jim, his companion on the raft. ‘I never said nothing, never let on,’ Huck chooses to remain silent and his choice leaves himself and Jim vulnerable to the manipulations of the king and the duke. Huck must never ‘let on’ that he indeed knows the truth about the king and the duke. This phrase binds Huck; he is now forced to pretend that he oblivious to the truth. By pretending Huck cannot ever challenge the authority of the king or duke in fear of ‘letting on,’ he must go along with the various scams that place him and Jim a variety of uncomfortable situations. On one occasion Jim is left tied up in the raft and Huck is threatened to be tarred and feathered along with the king and the duke when they are discovered as ‘frauds’ during the middle of a scam.
Huck’s silence removes responsibility of Jim’s mistreatment from him but not the guilt. Huck is not directly responsible for the mistreatment that Jim endures at the hands of the king and the duke, but his silence makes him equally guilty, withholding crucial information about the ‘frauds’ would have prevented the ill treatment of Jim. In this type of situation silence becomes a type of lie. Huck’s silence here misleads Jim into thinking these ‘frauds’ are trustworthy, which the reader is aware is an illusion constructed by Huck’s lack of words. Silence plays an instrumental role; however, Huck’s example does not clearly orchestrate the devastating effect his silence represents. The construction of silence is viewed similarly in William Faulkner’s novel, As I Lay Dying. Addie, the main character gives a monologue where she confesses about her extra marital affair,
“I [Addie] did not lie to him: I just refused, just refused my breast to Cash and Darl after their time was up … I hid nothing. I tried to deceive no one. I would not have cared. I merely took precautions that he thought necessary for his sake, not for my safety, but I just wore my clothes in the world’s face. Then I found out I had Jewel.” (Faulkner 175)
Like Twain, Faulkner’s novel demonstrates the affect silences have on other characters. After closely examining this quote the reader uncovers Addie’s true character when she becomes frustrated with the affair she uses her children as scapegoats. Cash and Darl are babies being weaned and ‘refused my breast.’ The abruptness of weaning exemplifies Addie’s frustration, disregard and insensitivity toward her children. ‘refusing her breast’ symbolically demonstrates her refusing motherly love her, transforming her into an unemotional and coldhearted mother.
Another observation the reader makes are the different goals Huck and Addie have. Unlike Huck ‘not letting on’ Addie wants people to know about her adultery. She doesn’t hide but exposes it, ‘I just wore my clothes in the world’s face,’ for any observer to see. Addie is remaining silent by exposing herself through, clothing rather than confessing her adultery directly. Silence not only avoids an embarrassing situation but also keeps Addie in superior position, simultaneously allowing mock anyone who cannot guess her deed. She is teases everyone with her evidence. Her reasons for remaining silent are unselfish. She remains silent for her lover who does not care about her. He is more concerned about himself remaining nameless. Addie’s motives for remaining silent are unselfish, even though she uses it in her best interest. Like Huck, Addie does not want to Addie’s feelings of superiority are short lived when she realizes she is pregnant with Jewel. Jewel becomes Addie’s manifestation of guilt; she now has evidence of her adultery. Once Jewel is born her guilt becomes unbearable for her and decides rid herself of guilt which she describes “I cleaned my house…I gave Anse Dewey Dell to negative Jewel. Then gave him Vardaman to replace the child I had robbed him of.” (Faulkner 176) Addie’s tone signifies that she has rectified her act of adultery by producing more children. The problem with that idea is that these children have been born to a loveless mother who in the end shows no affection and they grow up troubled. This indicates that addie’s silence indeed spills over unto her children.
In light of Faulkner’ analysis the reader can reexamine Huck’s silence and realize.
Huck’s motive seems sincere; however, it does not take into account his history or his experiences. An alternative possibility is that the king and the duke remind Huck of his father, who is mentioned in this excerpt. Huck’s relation with his father, Pap is filled with physical and mental abuse. Huck’s fear of Pap is transferred onto the king and the duke because they are ‘his kind of people.’ Huck’s childhood fears of his father prevent him from exposing the king and the duke for the ‘frauds’ that they are. This explanation gives depth to Huck’s choice and accommodates for Huck’s personal attributes while shedding light onto the fact that Huck is human, with feelings and emotions that control various aspects of his life. Huck’s true reason for remaining silent is because of fear rather than malicious behavior.
The rigid structure suggested by truth and lies being antonyms. However through the experiences of Huck and Addie the reader learns that there must be a construction that accommodates various level and degrees of lies instead. There must be a construction of a gray zone rather than the strict black or white approach suggested by the idea of antonyms.
Posted by jrichar2 on December 11, 2003 at 10:11 AM